Low profile wiper-washer assembly

ABSTRACT

A windshield washer and wiper assembly having a hollow drive shaft for the wiper arm with fluid for the windshield being supplied through the shaft to a fluid transmission element. A tubular member connected to the fluid transmission element passes through the windshield wiper arm to a nozzle. A substantially circular shaped channel is provided in the windshield wiper arm to retain the tubular element within the wiper arm.

United States Patent Weber [451- June 20, 1972 [54] LOW PROFILEWIPER-WASHER ASSEMBLY [72] Inventor: Alexander F. Weber, 6310 MarshallRoad, Centerville, Ohio 45459 [22] Filed: Dec. 16, 1970 [21] Appl.No.:98,643

521 05.0. ..15/25o.o4,15/25o.35 511 lnt.Cl. ..B60s 1/46 581FieldofSearch ..1s/250.o|,250.02,250.03,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,427,675 2/1969 Tibbet5/250.04

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,295,138 4/1962 France ..15/250.041,912,037 9/1970 Germany ..15/250.04

Primary ExaminerPeter Feldman Attorney-Harry A. Herbert, Jr. and RichardJ. Killoren ABSTRACT A windshield washer and wiper assembly having ahollow drive shaft for the wiper arm with fluid for the windshield beingsupplied through the shaft to a fluid transmission element. A tubularmember connected to the fluid transmission element passes through thewindshield wiper arm to a nozzle. A substantially circular shapedchannel is provided in the windshield wiper arm to retain the tubularelement within the wiper arm.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDmzo m2 SHEET 1 [IF 2 v I 1 I LOWPROFILE wmaa-wasrmn ASSEMBLYI BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the art ofwindshieldwashers there are three conventional types known; separatejets located adjacent the base of the windshield, those wherein theliquid is supplied directly to the blade and those wherein the liquid issupplied through the windshield wiper arm. This invention is concernedwith the third type wherein the liquid is supplied through thewindshield wiper arm.

Devices of the type wherein the liquid is supplied through thewindshield wiper arm are shown in the U.S. Pats, Roscoe, No. 3,234,579;Carpenter, No. 3,422,484;- and Close, No. 3,448,482.

A low profile configuration for the windshield wiper arm is desirablefor aesthetic purposes and because they are less susceptible to windageloss'of the washer fluid and blade lift at the higher vehicle speeds.When low profile windshield washers and wipers are used, it has been thepractice to supply the washer fluid through a flexible tube held in thearm by means of clamps, clips or other retainers. However, none of thesepositively held the hose within the wiper arm. i

Also, there is a problem, in such apparatus, in supplying th washerfluid to the moving arm. In Roscoe, a complicated apparatus is usedforthis purpose, which is subject to leakage after there is some wear onthe parts. In the device of Carpenter the hole through which the shaft10 passes must be large enough to accommodate the tube 26 or a separatehole must be provided.

SUMMARY OF TI-IE INVENTION According to this invention, a channelthrough which the supply hose within the arm passes is provided whichsubstantially surrounds the hose, which makes it impossible for the hoseto come loose in the arm at high vehicle speeds. Also, means is providedfor supplying fluid to the washer in the arm through the windshieldwiper drive shaft.

' IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a vehiclewith the windshield washer and wiper arm assembly of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view partially in section of thewasher and wiper warm assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the device of FIG. 2 along th line 3-3.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational schematic illustration of the washer wiperassembly of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view partially in section of the drive shaft andwindshield wiper arm attachment for the device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference is now made to FIG. 1of. the drawing which shows a window washer and wiper assembly forcleaning a window 12 on an automobile 14. The washer and wiper assembly10 has a conventional blade 16 secured to an arm 18 in the normalmanner. Washer fluid is supplied to a nozzle 20 through arm 18 as willbe explained later.

As shown in FIG. 2, a substantially circular shaped channel 21 is formedat one side of arm 18 to retain a rubber tube 24. The rubber tube 24 isconnected to the nozzle 20 at one end and to a fitting 26 on a fluidtransmission element 28 at the other end. The tube 24 is inserted inchannel 21 at the nozzle end and fed through the channel toward element28. Channel 21 has a cut away portion 29 which is bent away from thetube 24 to permit the bending of tube 24 toward fitting 26 on element28.

Fluid is supplied to the fluid transmission element 28 through channel30 in the center of drive shaft 31. Element 28 has a fitting 32 whichpresses into the top of the drive shaft 31.

A passage 34 in the element 28 communicates with :passage 30 andsupplies fluid to tube 24. A fluid supply hose 5 supplies fluid tochannel 30 in the conventional manner.

The shaft 31 is driven in a conventional manner by a drive mechanismshown schematically at 36. Element 28 is held in a wiper arm mountingmember 38 which is secured to a conventional splined fixture 40 on thedrive shaft 31. Arm 18 is secured to mounting member 38 by means of apivot pin 42. The windshield wiper is biased toward the windshield by aspring element 44 in the conventional manner.

There is thus provided a low profile windshield washer and wiperassembly which does not have the disadvantages of prior windshieldwasher and wiper assemblies.

What is claimed is:

l. A windshield washer and wiper assembly comprising: a drive shaft forthe windshield washer and wiper; a fluid passage in said drive shaft; awindshield wiper arm, adapted to have a wiper blade attached to the endthereof; means for securing the wiper arm to said drive shaft; saidsecuring means including an arm mounting member secured to said shaftand means for pivotably mounting the arm on the arm mounting member; aspring connected between said arm mounting means and the windshieldwiper arm adapted to bias the arm toward the windshield; a washer nozzlepositioned adjacent theend of said arm remote from said shaft; means,including a flexible tubular member located within arm, for supplyingfluid from the passage in the drive shaft to said nozzle; said fluidsupplying means including a fluid transmission element having a fittingfor engaging the passage in the shaft and a fitting for engaging saidtubular member; said channel means consisting of a rolled-over sideportion of the windshield wiper arm which substantially surrounds saidtubular member and has a cut away portion at the end which is bent awayfrom the tubular member whereby the tubular member can be turned toengage the fitting on the fluid transmission element.

1. A windshield washer and wiper assembly comprising: a drive shaft forthe windshield washer and wiper; a fluid passage in said drive shaft; awindshield wiper arm, adapted to have a wiper blade attached to the endthereof; means for securing the wiper arm to said drive shaft; saidsecuring means including an arm mounting member secured to said shaftand means for pivotably mounting the arm on the arm mounting member; aspring connected between said arm mounting means and the windshieldwiper arm adapted to bias the arm toward the windshield; a washer nozzlepositioned adjacent the end of said arm remote from said shaft; means,including a flexible tubular member located within arm, for supplyingfluid from the passage in the drive shaft to said nozzle; said fluidsupplying means including a fluid transmission element having a fittingfor engaging the passage in the shaft and a fitting for engaging saidtubular member; said channel means consisting of a rolled-over sideportion of the windshield wiper arm which substantially surrounds saidtubular member and has a cut away portion at the end which is bent awayfrom the tubular member whereby the tubular member can be turned toengage the fitting on the fluid transmission element.